[Q] TF810 vs Ativ 500T - Windows 8 General

Seems simple as they are almost the same we should go for cheaper one...but...
is getting Samsung really a better deal?
Your thoughts? Which hybrid with Atom is the best choice and why?

I own the Samsung 500t. What I like about it besides being $200 cheaper, is the rotation lock button, full sized USB port, and a slot to store the s-pen. What I don't like is the glossy slippery plastic back, the weak speakers, and lack of second battery in the dock.
The TF810 looks like it has better build quality with mostly aluminum and some plastic, shouldn't be slippery, I think the "Quad-Speakers" are probably going to sound better. It's got a brighter Super IPS+ screen which helps if you need to use the tablet outside. And it has a second battery in the dock. Oh and it is just better looking too.
The Atom is okay, but it's video playback kinda sucks. It seems many of these Atom tablets have various driver quirks that are still being worked out. Things just don't seem to be quite ready yet and I'm already second guessing the wisdom of spending $750 on the Samsung. So I definitely wouldn't pay $950 for the ASUS (with dock).
I'm looking at the HP Envy X2 also. HP has it on sale for $750 (not sure how long this sale will last), that includes the dock. I really like the all aluminum build and the latch mechanism doesn't stick out as much as other tablets. It's also get a second battery in the dock, but has no stylus or a Wacom digitizer (apparently uses some cheaper digitizer). And some day the keyboard isn't that good either.
Seems like all the Atom tablets have some downsides that we have to figure out which ones we can accept.
I'm also thinking about just giving up on the whole keyboard docking thing and saving some money and getting a 10 inch ASUS VivoTab Smart. At least it'll make a better tablet being lighter and easier to hold. And I can prop it up in a stand and use a bluetooth keyboard. And lastly I won't feel so bad spending so much money to be a first generation Windows 8 tablet guinea pig.

Lenovo Lynx is looking pretty good too. $600 for the tablet, $150 for the dock.
http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/tablet/ideatab/lynx-k3011/?menu-id=learn&ref-id=learn
Being a Lenovo that means the keyboard should be pretty good, and the keyboard dock has a battery. Built quality looks quite nice overall, and a textured back appears grippy and finger print resistant. It has no pen though. And what really makes me nervous is the specs say the micro SD slot supports up to 32GB. No SDXC in 2013, seriously? I'm really thinking that's got to be a mistake, but I'm not sure. It's definitely a deal breaker if it isn't a mistake.

Ravynmagi said:
I own the Samsung 500t. What I like about it besides being $200 cheaper, is the rotation lock button, full sized USB port, and a slot to store the s-pen. What I don't like is the glossy slippery plastic back, the weak speakers, and lack of second battery in the dock.
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That is a true downside. I got Galaxy S3 and I have dropped it few times beacuse back has no grip at all , I suppose laptop/tablet will be less mobile than phone but still it should allow me to carry it in safety.
Ravynmagi said:
The TF810 looks like it has better build quality with mostly aluminum and some plastic, shouldn't be slippery, I think the "Quad-Speakers" are probably going to sound better. It's got a brighter Super IPS+ screen which helps if you need to use the tablet outside. And it has a second battery in the dock. Oh and it is just better looking too.
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My thoughts exactly. So fat I have only seen 500t in reality as Vivo Tab is not in shops yet... but I just like the way it look.
One more downside of Asus in Poland is TERRIBLE warranty service. Services are being run by small companies that have agreement with Asus Poland and in most cases they blame user for everything - standard reply is "Seal was broken/tempered with - warranty void" even having pictures of it before send for repairs is not helping .
Ravynmagi said:
The Atom is okay, but it's video playback kinda sucks. It seems many of these Atom tablets have various driver quirks that are still being worked out.
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What exactly are your issues?
This device that I will buy has to be able to play (smoothly) most video formats, most popular being .mkv 720p.
If this has similar problems to "old" Tegra 2 devices (remeber?) than it is a BIG PROBLEM.
On the other hand I used to have old Asus 1201n netbook with dual-core Atom 300 and first gen. Nvidia Ion onboard and it played everything without an issue (12" screen with 1366x768).
So... what is going on here?
Ravynmagi said:
I'm looking at the HP Envy X2 also. HP has it on sale for $750
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Saw it... don't like it either. Had HP/Compaq in the past and always had problems with them.
Since hardware of HP and 500t is the same I would go with Samsung in this one (I guess).
Ravynmagi said:
Seems like all the Atom tablets have some downsides that we have to figure out which ones we can accept.
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More details, please
Ravynmagi said:
I'm also thinking about just giving up on the whole keyboard docking thing and saving some money and getting a 10 inch ASUS VivoTab Smart.
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I was considering it, but in my case size of screen matters . When I write texts I work with few windows an 10" is just to small .

What's the difference between the tf810 and the tf810c? Is there a tf810 with LTE or any cellular connectivity?
Also the Samsung device looks to be a afterthought device from Samsung. Avoid
If its possible, I'd say wait another season or two for more competition.
If not, go TF810.

WingCero said:
What's the difference between the tf810 and the tf810c? Is there a tf810 with LTE or any cellular connectivity?
Also the Samsung device looks to be a afterthought device from Samsung. Avoid
If its possible, I'd say wait another season or two for more competition.
If not, go TF810.
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Can't wait I am waiting last 2 year to replace iPad with something that will do what I need.
I need Windows to work, I need mobile device to work away from home during weekends ( yes I know)
And I dont want just laptop as I has to be entertainment device as well.
Why do you say: Samsung device looks to be a afterthought device...?

galtom said:
Can't wait I am waiting last 2 year to replace iPad with something that will do what I need.
I need Windows to work, I need mobile device to work away from home during weekends ( yes I know)
And I dont want just laptop as I has to be entertainment device as well.
Why do you say: Samsung device looks to be a afterthought device...?
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In terms of the Samsung device, its build quality looks to be just as bad as it's phones. Samsung laptops are probably the best in the world (Series 9) To see the ATIV coming from them is a clear sign that they didn't really put much thought into it, especially when you compare it to DELL and ASUS' hybrids.
Looks like we're in the same situation. I cannot wait either :-/
I just posted this so maybe you'll find some help alongside of me.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2093981

Thanks for link.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

I have a TF810C and it's beautiful, the battery life is quite incredible. I consider this device perfect, except for the downsides:
-Slightly visible pixels at normal viewing distance, due to lowish resolution screen
-The pen bugs out when drawing 1cm near the edges of the screen
-The pen lacks drivers, and so does not work for Photoshop or nearly anything else. It works with some Windows 8 apps and both desktop & metro OneNote. When it does work, it works really well.
-Tinny speakers that are situated at the back of the tablet. They get a little bit distorted.
-No complex gestures for the touchpad. I like to tap on the right click area instead of pressing down, but the drivers for the tablet don't allow this!
-Dodgy, dodgy chipset drivers. Expect a BSOD every 2 days, sound that completely breaks until you reboot once a day, stability problems, unresponsive touchpad when waking from sleep, etc. These can happily be fixed by installing Samsung/HP/Acer drivers.
-No ASUS support at all. Drivers are not being updated, and the website doesn't even list the device correctly.
-The CPU can't handle fast-moving 720p 10bit .mkv files in VLC Player. Media Player Classic works, but it breaks for complex subtitles. Thankfully, a kickstarter for Windows 8-style VLC Player has been funded, and may offer better performance.
...And that's pretty much it for the problems. Every last one of them.
The tablet is thin, light, shiny, has a colourful and bright display, well-balanced with the keyboard dock, brilliant in every other way.
I can definitely recommend it, and hope that ASUS will eventually get around to fixing these problems rather than making users depend on other devices' drivers.

galtom said:
What exactly are your issues?
This device that I will buy has to be able to play (smoothly) most video formats, most popular being .mkv 720p.
If this has similar problems to "old" Tegra 2 devices (remeber?) than it is a BIG PROBLEM.
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Click to collapse
It's fortunately not as bad as the Tegra 2. I'm not sure if it's a hardware issue or maybe just a driver issue. I have trouble playing back some 1080p videos, there are noticeable frame drops. Stream HD video from Amazon Prime or YouTube gets choppy sometimes (not referring to buffering issues) as it's dropping frames. The ABC Player app in the Windows Store also drops frames. The Netflix app however seems to work flawlessly. And if I download 1080p YouTube videos and play them back with VLC that seem to work fine usually. 720p MVK files work most of the time, think I've had some higher bit rate ones that got choppy sometimes.
I have a smoother and more reliable video playback experience with my Kindle Fire HD. I'm hoping this is just a driver issue and things will get smoothed out soon.
Other driver issues...
Wireless sometimes has trouble reconnecting to an access point with bluetooth is being used. Some have also mentioned dramatic slows with wifi using bluetooth, though I haven't done any file transfers while using my bluetooth mouse yet, so haven't seen that first hand yet. If I disable the bluetooth the wireless never seems to have trouble reconnecting, only with bluetooth on.
The keyboard/trackpad don't seem to go to sleep when the tablet does. With the tablet in the keyboard dock, if I close lid this often causes the tablet to wake back up, even the screen will come back on. And it make stay on. I've also found that apps I didn't open will open up after I close the lid. I the tablet coming within close proximity of the trackpad while it's close is causing it to register clicks or interaction and wake up and run apps. I now have to manually press Fn-F5 to disable the track pad before closing the tablet lid on the keyboard. This seems to help a lot and now the tablet will go to sleep most of the time. Hopefully a driver update will make the keyboard/trackpad also sleep at some point.
However I don't think the keyboard/trackpad is the only issue preventing the tablet from going to sleep. Seems like if I have some applications running it has trouble sleeping as well. So if it doesn't sleep I may need to close some apps or go back to the Windows Start screen.
The audio is inconsistent. Sometimes the volume sounds good and sufficient and other times I have a real hard time hearing it. It's different on an app by app basis. Hopefully this can be improved through drivers.
galtom said:
More details, please
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I seem to run into big cons with each tablet I look at...
Samsung 500T, slippery back, no secondary battery.
ASUS TF810, expensive, no pen silo.
HP Envy X2, No pen, poor keyboard.
Acer W510, Too small, poor keyboard.
Lenovo Lynx, No pen, 32GB SD limitation.
Lenovo Tabet 2, No keyboard dock.
Dell Latitude 10, No keyboard dock, too small.
Pick your poison. I'd prefer a keyboard dock that converts the tablet into a clamshell laptop design (so I'm not a fan of the Surface kickstand and type cover design). 10 inch tablets mean the keyboard is going to be too cramped, so the W510 is too small (and the Dell is too if it had a keyboard).
Originally I didn't care about a pen, however after using the Samsung 510T for a while, I'm starting to realize the pen is pretty nice to have. It helps with desktop apps, such as when I want to highlight some text in the browser, which seems to be impossible to do by finger. I don't ink on my tablets, so the pen is just to make working with the desktop apps easier. And I need to be able to store the pen in the tablet otherwise it'll be hugely inconvenient. This is probably the one con I can overlook, I think I could live without the pen, it's just something I'd really like to have.
Seems like on the Lenovo Lynx has the 32GB micro SD limitation. I already own a 64GB microSD card and I got to be able to use this with my tablet. 64GB is going to already be cramped on the tablet (only about 32 to 40GB is available depending on the size of the recovery partition). I'm hoping the 32GB limit is an error in the specs list, but it's mentioned more than once in different places.
Lack of secondary battery is more an annoyance. So far I've been able to get through an entire tablet with my Samsung 500T despite not having a second battery. I'm also not using the tablet constantly all day long, but I do use if frequently through out the day. And the battery life of the Atom is already impressive. So it's disappointing there is no second battery, but it's not a deal breaker.
A slippery back on a tablet almost is a deal breaker. While I don't feel like there is any danger of dropping it, it's so huge, so it won't slip out of your hands that fast. But it does make holding it even more awkward than the weight and size already make. Fortunately this potential deal breaker issue is somewhat solved with a skin I put on the back from Decalrus. The skin is smooth, but it is still a decent improvement than the glossy plastic of the tablet. It doesn't feel slippery anymore.
At this moment I'm probably going to end up keeping my Samsung 500T. If the Lenovo Lynx supported 64GB micro SD then I'd be highly tempted to switch to that. However if the sleep issues with the Samsung keyboard keeps bothering me, it's possible I just may give up on a tablet+keyboard=laptop dream and just go with a pure 10 inch tablet without keyboard and get an ASUS ME400 (VivoTab Smart) and save myself $250. And wait for the Bay Trail tablet at the end of the year.
---------- Post added at 08:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 AM ----------
One positive thing about the 500T. Despite some driver issus with the wireless, it seems like Samsung has been doing a good job with driver updates. And the tablet has been quite stable. I've never had a bluescreen of death and don't need to reboot it.

Ravynmagi said:
A slippery back on a tablet almost is a deal breaker. While I don't feel like there is any danger of dropping it, it's so huge, so it won't slip out of your hands that fast. But it does make holding it even more awkward than the weight and size already make. Fortunately this potential deal breaker issue is somewhat solved with a skin I put on the back from Decalrus. The skin is smooth, but it is still a decent improvement than the glossy plastic of the tablet. It doesn't feel slippery anymore.
QUOTE]
It seems a couple people posted about the slippery back of the Samsung ATIV 500T. I have owned this tablet for about 3 weeks now and I have had no issues at all with the material on the back of the tablet. Honestly I dont even feel like it is slippery. Its not like my fingers glide across the back when I am gripping it. Or I have never set it on a surface and feared that it would glide to the other end and fall to the ground. Just my opinion.
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knlmwq said:
It seems a couple people posted about the slippery back of the Samsung ATIV 500T. I have owned this tablet for about 3 weeks now and I have had no issues at all with the material on the back of the tablet. Honestly I dont even feel like it is slippery. Its not like my fingers glide across the back when I am gripping it. Or I have never set it on a surface and feared that it would glide to the other end and fall to the ground. Just my opinion.
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The back is smooth glossy plastic. When your hands are perfectly dry there is no issue. Unfortunately for us humans, up to 60% of our body is water and most of us have a little bit of moisture that forms in our palms. So unless you are constantly rubbing your hands dry and wiping the back of the tablet with a cloth, it's going to get slippery for most people.
I have no fear it's going to just pop out of my hands like a wet bar of soap. But it's difficult to hold in the palm of one hand while interacting with the screen, because it keeps slipping.
This back is one of the big reasons I'm returning mine. It's just too much of a hassle.

In all those devices with 64GB SSD - how much space is left for user?

A base Win8 64-bit install will use ~15GB, counting pagefile, hiberfile, etc. (size highly variable on the amount of RAM installed, among other things). Adding things like Office and the legacy .NET frameworks will drive that up somewhat. Realistically, If there's a recovery partition (likely), it'll probably be at least 5GB and possibly as much as 15GB (if there's a ton of pre-loaded crap) but that just depends on where you get it from, and you can create external recovery media (flashdrive or similar), nuke the recovery partition, and extend the main partition into the space. Realistically, I'd say you should expect to have 30-40GB of fully usable free space - you can go higher than that, especially if you disable hibernate, but it will slow things down if the storage gets too full.

Thanks for the info - that is all I needed to know.
As far as I understand there will be no problem in moving recovery partition to USB drive/NAS disk/ or even to cloud (Skydrive) just for storage?

galtom said:
Thanks for the info - that is all I needed to know.
As far as I understand there will be no problem in moving recovery partition to USB drive/NAS disk/ or even to cloud (Skydrive) just for storage?
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You can move it to a USB flash drive, it needs about 8GB of space. I probably wouldn't put it in a cloud drive since if you actually need it it'll need to be on a USB flash drive anyway.
BTW, with my Samsung 500T, I sometimes had to reboot twice before it would recognize the USB recovery drive (USB boot is weird on this thing).

Hi Guys, I had both the Ativ 500t and now the TF810. For me the 500t seemed slower and seemed to freeze. so I returned it and last week I got the TF810 for my Bday. It is so much better quality and performance. I also had a huge problem with the keyboard disconnecting on the 500t. The keyboard is soo much better with the TF810 and the battery adds atleast an additional 8hours. All this aside I ended up winning a contest at work and will receive the surface pro when released so I will probably sell the TF810 and throw in the Keyboard for free. It turns out we just missed out on the extended return with Amazon holiday because Adorama is only 15days into the new year.
Out of the 2 the TF810 for me was the far better machine. Granted I have only used it for a week but everything from the Pen on is so much better.

Great to hear that my decision to spend more and get Tf810 was/is a good one

Before you sell the TF810, it would be interesting to observe your comparison with the Surface Pro. I have the Surface RT and love it, but I'd like to see some comparisons of the x86 options. The Surface is very tablet-y; it can be used as a laptop (I have the Touch Cover, which works but is not perfect) but even with the kickstand and all, it feels a bit more natural as a tablet. I'm worried that Surface Pro may try a little too hard to be a tablet (despite its disadvantages in weight, thickness, etc.), and end up being good at neither.

If I still have it when the Pro comes I will do the comp video. But right now it is on EBay with keyboard included for only $799 so I doubt it will last long. As it is priced to sell.

Related

Galaxy tab 10.1 Vs. Transformer?????

I'm looking into purchasing one or the other, and am stuck in between, can anyone please shed some light onto this?
I like the galaxy tab for a few reasons, one its samsung and i tend to trust their build quality over asus, two its super thin and much smaller than the transformer, and three the speakers are better, but the main thing that is killing it for me is the lack of ports, only having a single proprietary port bugs me, and feels like i'm being forced into buying additional things that should have been included in the first place
i like the transformer because of the ports and sd card expansion, and the keyboard with the battery and extra usb/sd ports.
i'm not sure which to choose, please help!
totally your preference. how much are you really going to use your hdmi and sd card? if you use it a lot, then go transformer. if you are going to get a keyboard, they both have sd card slots.
however, if thin tablets are of bigger importance, go samsung.
I think build quality is now same. asus new batches seem to be better than the rushed out ones.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Don't know if anyone can really help you decide, because it sounds like you already know the pros and cons of both. But I feel the same way. I really like both tablets, both have some great qualities, but both have some pretty big weaknesses too.
Going to just copy/paste what I just wrote on the Transformer board...
Transformer
+ $100 cheaper
+ micro SD
+ mini HDMI
+ netbook style keydock
Galaxy Tab 10.1
+ lighter and rounded edges (more comfortable)
+ better speakers
+ PLS display
+ LED flash
+ just better looking
Almost afraid to say it, because I detest custom UI, but I almost want to give the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a + for TouchWiz UX. The demo of it actually has some very nice looking features.
Because of the lack of micro SD I almost certainly will need to spend $200 more for a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1, versus the 16GB Transformer I'm using now with my 16GB micro SD card. So the price difference is greater (I am sure I need more than 16GB for a tablet).
....I own a Transformer now, it's my second one, and it has a screen defect. So I've run into some build quality issues with the Transformers. But I also have build quality fears for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. I've seen a lot of glass separation from the bezel in corners in a lot of video reviews. It looks a bit too common. Almost none of those video reviews call attention to it, but after seeing some complaints about it on this board and a article on Android Community, I've been looking carefully at those corners and now seem to notice it all the time.
Both are great tablets. I going to need to return my Transformer in about 5 days. So I still have a bit more time to mull it over.
+1 to what Ravynmagi said.
I actually returned my Transformer a couple weeks ago. For it's price point, it definitely is awesome, but I just didn't like the fact that I could literally flex and twist it and it would affect the light bleeding. I would rather pay the extra money to have something solid and according to a lot of video reviews, people are saying that even though it's plastic it feels just as solid as the iPad2... and I consider my iPad2 very solid.
I returned my TF today. Terrible screen separation under the bezel. A lot of FCs. Considerably heavier than the Tab. The extra 100 that i spent thus far seems well worth it.
The tab it's a better pure tablet. The transformer doesn't need a adapter for hdmi out.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Ok I know I’m biased but it's lighter, sleeker, thinner, PLS screen and great build quality. In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets. Ah yes and I can hold it in one hand.
FTFY
cosimoss said:
In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets.
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10 chars
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
Darkgage said:
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
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very good video
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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supercurio seems to be enjoying the PLS screen on galaxy tab 10.1
I'm also intrigued by #GalaxyTab101 PLS screen (Samsung improved IPS). This thing could be or become pro photographer's dream calibrated.
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Samsung is in 3.1 now for both IO and Retail version, except 10.1v.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
Ah ok ... Apologize to the poster
Mr.Duck said:
i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
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I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
Ravynmagi said:
I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
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Damnit man.. now I'm going to return my TF too. I three defects and three annoyances.
- Hair under the screen.. looks like an eye lash
- Moderate light bleed.. increases when I hold it due to flex
- Bezel began creaking and moving
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
ericc191 said:
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
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Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
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Yeah, my girlfriend is upset that I'm going to exchange. She says the back of the TF is perfect for grip.
Also, for people who purchased on Amazon, make sure you choose defective when returning. This shouldn't be an issue as nearly all TFs have light bleed.
I chose to put that I no longer wanted it, and they tried to add a 20% restocking fee. I called up and got that removed by telling them I hit the wrong button.
The Transformer & Iconia were somewhat similar. I like the many ports on the Acer, but it was rather heavy for one handed use. Trying to type in portrait was a pain because of the device weight. If the Galaxy had those ports, then it would not be as thin, & would weigh more. I returned the Acer & pre-ordered the Galaxy. I plan on getting the USB adapter and using it when needed, which will be every once in a while.

Transformer vs Galaxy tab 10.1

I literally just put my order in about 3 days ago and will see my TF on Thursday, but I'm having second thoughts. A friend of mine just got his TF in today, and - well I dunno, I'm not all that impressed.
Out of the box came with the speaker issue (one side is louder than the other). The sound wasn't all that loud
Screen brightness was kind of low
The sharp edges were cutting my fingers
So I started to have a read about the differences between the Transformer & the Galaxy tab in the Galaxy Tab section. However, I think everyone posting there is biased toward the tab because they are now tab fanboys posting in their forum.
A few things I do like about the TF. Price of $399 (unbeatable) Expandable ports, dock option, memory slot, hdmi out, 5mpx camera. Do I think I'll use all of that (except price)? Probably not.
A few things I like about the Tab. Same size screen with less bulk, thinner, lighter, rounded edges, very solid build quality. Do I think its worth an extra $100 for these items? I think so. Plus I know the resale value will definitely be there because its a well known brand.
I haven't made up my mind completely on this but im about 80% of the way there in returning my TF and going with the Tab.
Thoughts, comments?
Nobody can decide for you. Do whatever you are happiest with.
Having used a hybrid tablet/netbook like the Transformer, I would never buy a tablet-only device.
^x2
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...
Hi mate,
I have had the TF since release day and to be honest I'm very happy with it. It does what I need it to do very well: reading books, browse internet, playing games, plays movies (although there are some issues).
On the other hand I don't need and I will never get the dock, simply because if I wanted a netbook there are much better options on the market. And I have one of them as well.
Because of that I'm waiting to see the Galaxy Tab in real life, hold it in my hands. And if that offers everything that I need and is better than the TF I might go for it.
So good luck choosing! Let us know what you go for.
rio
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status
rio911 said:
PS: Actually what I'm considering at the moment is the small Galaxy tab 8.9 (I think). That one was on the Samsung website for a while, but I'm not sure what is the current status
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.
Some people like smaller I would not be able to stand a 7" tablet or laptop without optical media. My motto has always been its the size/shape that makes it portable it doesn't matter if its 20lbs its still light and easy to move around. But then again I compare it with moving around 300-400lbs.
Digiguest said:
Actually that is the "MEDIUM" Galaxy Tab. THe "small" one is the 7 inch versions and there are two of them. The powerful 3G/Wifi one and the neutered and less power Wifi only version.
The MAJOR downside to any Galaxy Tabs are :
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
2.) 10 inchers have no expansion slots.....and the 8.9 as well I think.
Get whatever YOU decide to be happy with. Others cannot make that choice for you. Only YOU can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gtab. 10.1 also with build issues. Many are suffering from Newton rings. Dust under screen. Colors are way oversaturated.....
If u want android in an ipad like body then go Samsung. If Samsung would have made the device 1 or 2 mm thicker and put in micro SD and HDMI they also would have been able to prevent the Newton ring issue and have the one killer tablet.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Digiguest said:
1.) Updates are so slow....MONTHS behind the others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how you can say that really.... there hasn't been any major updates for Samsung to pass onto the Tablets. The only time when you'll be able to use that point is when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out. I'd say that 1/2 months is a good enough turn around for manufacturers to update their devices a major version.
I'd also like to note that I have a Galaxy S. While Americans are still using Eclair because of their crappy carriers wanting to hack the firmware to bits, us using unbranded european devices got Gingerbread before any other device (bar the Nexus devices). Samsung know what they are doing.
The way I see it, from my experience with the TF is this:
16GB is not enough. My music alone is near this and more. Since there is no additional storage options on the GT, you are going to have to opt for a 32GB or more which equals greater $$$ to spend. But sacrifices could be made...
So, I would say the dock is the real reason to get this thing. If you are not too excited about the dock, I wouldn't bother. The GT excels in design, but the TF excels in utility and value.
If the "sharp edges" of the Transformer are really "cutting [your] fingers," that's a physical problem with the device (or your fingers, I guess!).
Buy sleeve m8,than will be perfect
Your not the first to have these concerns. I bought the tf and was considering selling it for a tab. But what you've stated (price, microsd, HDMI out, and KB option) kept me from doing so.
I played with the tab for an hour or so and still prefer my tf. I didn't like the button placement on the tab, (they're in a more natural placement on the tf.
I did have the speaker issue on my tf but it was an easy fix. Just root it (there's a very well written guide by yours truly ;-)) and read up on the thread in the development section and it's as easy as editing a txt file.
If the edges bother you, grab a case, I'm currently using the roocase multi-angle which I got from amazon for under $30.
Other than that the only downside of the tf I see is the charger. Proprietary connection, short cable and sometimes the adapter doesn't want to work.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I was in the same boat. I traded my iPad2 for an Android tablet and had lots of offers. I was looking at the Galaxy Tab and thought it was for me until I found that it didn't have any expansion ports like the iPad2. It is one of the reasons why I HATED the iPad2 because you had to carry around the special USB cable to sync it... then you needed special software for it to work...
Screw all that. I need to be able to quickly get files on and off the my tablet. I don't want to have to rely on another computer or a computer with special software to read my stuff.
90% of the time you'll have access to a Home or Work PC which you will probably have setup properly... but trust me... you WILL find yourself somewhere needing to pull a picture off or text or an attachment or something and you'll be stuck. It will happen more often the more you use it.
Plus the price point. I was trading my iPad2 for whichever I wanted. Did I need the keyboard dock? No. Will I use the keyboard dock often? No. Is it badass? Yes.
The keyboard dock has an additional battery that will charge the tablet battery when docked. It also increases the functionality of the tab.
Both tablets are identical in hardware except the Transformer has lots of additional ports. microSD is a must and HDMI out is actually very handy for throwing pictures, movies, games, etc on a larger screen.
I just can't see buying the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the same price as you could buy the Transformer + Dock.
sontin said:
It's more than $100 (or here in germany 100€). You don't have a MicroSD Slot and HDMI-out. Do you need both options you must pay way more. And for the same price you can get a Transformer+Dock.
I don't see, why anybody would pay more for less...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.
My experience is that I just bought the Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB about 5 days ago. I played with it over night and returned it the next day.
The following day, I purchased the Transformer 16GB and a dock for $50.00 more.
Now that I've owned the TF for 3-4 days, I'm very satisfied with it for many reasons:
- Multiple media input/out options: mini HDMI out, x2 USB ports, and SD/MMC card reader. - Will work perfectly with my Nikon P100's SD card and I can use a external HDD and plug it right into the USB port if I want to watch my movies.
- Dock acts as extended battery: I also tether my HTC Thunderbolt and plug it into the dock to keep a charge on my Thunderbolt while tethering my 4G to the Transformer.(SO MUCH WIN!!!)
- Having a keyboard when I want to compose an email is x100 better than thumbing my words through the tab. - I still use the touchscreen kb for somethings.
- Dock/keyboard has shortcut buttons which I take advantage of all the time.
- Textured casing makes handling the tablet/net book very secure and eliminates any smudges.
*I do not see where in the world you could cut your hand/finger on the tablet or the docking station. - You should tell your friend to get an RMA because there's something wrong with the one he has. Either that or he may need to see a dermatologist about amyloidosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Re: Samsung Galaxy 10.1
I chose that tablet first because of the sleek design. I was extremely impressed with the way that Samsung engineered the design.
HOWEVER, no more than 1-2 hours after playing with it, I came back to my senses and see how limited I was with any options. Not only does it look like an iPad but it also has all the shortcomings in hardware that the iPad does.
I have had a few Android devices and so it's practically a religion to have a microSD card for my stuff. Samsung decided to cut back on adding any option to extend storage and that was a the biggest decider for me. - All the selling points that a Android tablet has in terms of hardware-media expansion was nerfed on latest Galaxy Tab. Did Samsung want to imitate Apple so much that they even decided to try and sell a tab that requires additional parts to make it comparable to all other tablets?
In the end, this is only my real life opinion having owned both devices and what I still have now is the Asus Transformer.
Once I used the keyboard/dock with my tablet, I can not imagine another tablet without this option. Asus did a decent job in engineering the look/feel of the tab with the dock/keyboard.
*I did have to return both tab and dock/keyboard to Best Buy until I found the right Best Buy which had B60 as my previous ones were B50.
Good lucking in making your decision. If you buy it at Best Buy, you can at least return it in 14 days without restocking fee and get the other one. If you felt that first one was better than you can simply return it again and go back to the other model. I am in NO WAY suggesting to abuse a return policy but it's there and it works as mentioned.
coachclass said:
I wouldn't exactly call the Samsung as "less" than the Transformer. I think they're different enough that it's gonna come down to how you personally use it.
One thing I'd like to point out - the Gtab is much easier to hold in your hand than the Transformer. Corners aren't as sharp, it's lighter, and seems better balanced. The texture on the back of the Gtab is easier to grab, though this could be solved with a sleeve on the Transformer.
Another point is screen reflection. The Transformer's glass is much farther away from the LCD than the glass on the Samsung. IPS screens are nice, but unless you're always going to be in a optimally lit room, you'll see a lot more reflections with the Transformer than with the Samsung Tab. Some Samsung Tab's have issues with the screen actually touching the LCD and making oil marks, but most don't.
So - the differences are definitely there. I don't you can write off the Gtab's advantages. The reflection and ergonomics itself might be worth $100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course the closer together glass in the gtab has led to the oil blob effect for Many
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I've had my TF since right after it launched in the US and I do love it. With that being said, I do plan on picking up a galaxy tab tomorrow, the last day that you can use the $50 off coupon for any tablet at staples.
The TF definately has the advantage when it comes to storage, because of the SD card and dock if you want to buy it, which I have no interest in. The galaxy tab however has a great form factor and from my limited use with one seems to have snappier performance than my TF, even though they have almost idendical specs, and my TF is overclocked. I also prefer the screen on the tab compared to the TF.
Honestly I think that the OP will be happy with either one. My only real gripe against the TF is that the majority of them seem to suufer from light bleed or some manufacturing defect, thankfully I only have minimal bleed, and that Asus has been slow with delivering on most of the official accessories that they promised months ago. I really want the desktop dock, which is readily available for the GT at a reasonable price.
I will say that if the galaxy tab disappoints me in any way during my return window, I will gladly buy a second TF after returning it.
I own the TF since late May...only problem I have with it is that the right speaker is louder than the left.
This past Sunday I bought the Galaxy Tab for someone and yeah it looks very nice it's thinner and lighter, but it seemed to have less options than the TF (specially within the browser settings.) The browser actually froze up on me and didn't want to display any pages. Didn't like that fact that it doesn't have an external microSD slot! I ended up returning it 2 hours later because the person preferred a laptop! My short experience with it wasn't good

The Lenovo ThinkPad is looking pretty darn nice.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-and-keyboard-folio-case-hands-on-video/
Looks like we have some competition now...
I must say that when I first heard of the thinkpad I thought it would be trash but reading this article definitely changed my mind.
I don't regret my purchase but if I didn't already have the TF there would be some definite consideration between these two tablets.
I honestly think what Asus did with the dockable keyboard and what Toshiba is now doing with there feature set are the biggest things to happen to android since the arrival of the G1 and then the OG Nexus.
Watch apple come out w/ the next ipad and charge a fortune for it because it has a "revolutionary dockable keyboard? Don't be in shock when it happens... I'm psychic.
I personally don't like any android tablet, honeycomb runs smooth but it just doesn't appeal as an OS. It looks outdated with that black bar and boring bottons at the bottom. I do like the designs, especially the S Tab 10.1! What I find awkward about this Lenovo tablet its the huge borders at the sides. Pure opinion!
The Lenovo keyboard doesnt actually dock with the display though does it? Also no extra battery in the keyboard so I dont see much similarity and definitely not as versatile as the TF
Mark.
the asus wins hands down on the keyboard dock. the lenovo dock just has those angled slots that all tablet keyboards have - which looks like the tablet would be kind of loose and prone to flap around a bit if you had it on your lap.
also looks a bit chunky and heavy, but if the hardware performs better than the asus, it might be worth a look at.
but what ever happened to the U1 android/windows hybrid that lenovo was supposed to be bringing out? that looked like a device worth getting.
Alexander243 said:
I personally don't like any android tablet, honeycomb runs smooth but it just doesn't appeal as an OS. It looks outdated with that black bar and boring bottons at the bottom. I do like the designs, especially the S Tab 10.1! What I find awkward about this Lenovo tablet its the huge borders at the sides. Pure opinion!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why are you in a subforum dedicated to a Honeycomb device? Go suck on an iPad or something, you boring twat.
grainysand said:
Then why are you in a subforum dedicated to a Honeycomb device? Go suck on an iPad or something, you boring twat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you assume I like the iPad? Are you a psychic now? I am giving my opinion, if you don't like it you can just ignore it! Stop trolling.
It looks nice to me. I bet they sell a lot. Lenovo is a standard in corporations, unlike Asus.
it does look nice
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I have had my TF for about 4 days now, and I am considering returning it to BestBuy so I can buy the Thinkpad. Here are my reasonings so maybe someone can set me straight ;-)
+ Enterprise Features from the Get Go - Cisco AnyConnect... I want to use my tablet for work when I am travelling and I get a call for an emergency. No other tablet that boasts the features of the Thinkpad has the Cisco client in the package. Yes I know I could root, but some corporations consider this a security violation and do not allow rooted devices on campus.
+ Netflix with ability to store movies locally. This isn't coming to the Asus device if the hardware parts are true and being able to store a movie and watch it on an airplane is compelling.
+ Standard Thinkpad-like Keyboard - Now this one is sort of a up and a down for the Lenovo, the Thinkpad keyboards are great, but their design is no where near as nice as the ASUS integration.
+ Standard looking power supply? - I still can't find anyone who mentions the power adapter, it looks from what I can see to be a fairly standard USB connector but for some stupid reason no one shows it. At least I can probably bet extra power cables for less than $40 a pop and they might actually be in stock.
+ Availability of a stylus that has been engineered to work with the Lenovo package (this one worries me if I decide to go with a custom ROM assuming root is achievable, will the stylus still work? )
- Keyboard dock doesn't appear to lend itself to laptop use, more toward desktop use, it looks flimsy in a way.
- No power in the dock to extend the useful time without a charger, although if it is a standard power port, I can charge on long plane flights without an inverter or some other craziness.
- Odd looking interface changes and not clear if you can go with a generic Honeycomb layout on your desk.
There are other pluses such as I may be able to get a discount through work and so on, but they aren't really generic. My big things really are the power cable that may be more than about 3' long and the enterprise package. But man do I love my TF and going to anything without as good of integration at the keyboard dock is just going to be so hard.
Right now I am leaning toward sticking with what I have rather than inviting problem, not to mention the Thinkpad does seem to have a fair amount of wasted space on the edges, not that the TF doesn't.
captmiddy said:
. My big things really are the power cable that may be more than about 3' long and the enterprise package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get a USB3 extension cable for your TF for about $7 on Amazon. I use on my dock which is on top of my desk.
Enterprise support would be nice, but we have such as custom package we have trouble getting it to run on Windows 7 let alone Android.
The Lenovo keyboard is a minus for me. I have a T410 i5 and it's a great machine, but I use cut and past a lot and hate the position of the function key next to control!!!
captmiddy said:
I have had my TF for about 4 days now, and I am considering returning it to BestBuy so I can buy the Thinkpad. Here are my reasonings so maybe someone can set me straight ;-)
+ Enterprise Features from the Get Go - Cisco AnyConnect... I want to use my tablet for work when I am travelling and I get a call for an emergency. No other tablet that boasts the features of the Thinkpad has the Cisco client in the package. Yes I know I could root, but some corporations consider this a security violation and do not allow rooted devices on campus.
+ Netflix with ability to store movies locally. This isn't coming to the Asus device if the hardware parts are true and being able to store a movie and watch it on an airplane is compelling.
+ Standard Thinkpad-like Keyboard - Now this one is sort of a up and a down for the Lenovo, the Thinkpad keyboards are great, but their design is no where near as nice as the ASUS integration.
+ Standard looking power supply? - I still can't find anyone who mentions the power adapter, it looks from what I can see to be a fairly standard USB connector but for some stupid reason no one shows it. At least I can probably bet extra power cables for less than $40 a pop and they might actually be in stock.
+ Availability of a stylus that has been engineered to work with the Lenovo package (this one worries me if I decide to go with a custom ROM assuming root is achievable, will the stylus still work? )
- Keyboard dock doesn't appear to lend itself to laptop use, more toward desktop use, it looks flimsy in a way.
- No power in the dock to extend the useful time without a charger, although if it is a standard power port, I can charge on long plane flights without an inverter or some other craziness.
- Odd looking interface changes and not clear if you can go with a generic Honeycomb layout on your desk.
There are other pluses such as I may be able to get a discount through work and so on, but they aren't really generic. My big things really are the power cable that may be more than about 3' long and the enterprise package. But man do I love my TF and going to anything without as good of integration at the keyboard dock is just going to be so hard.
Right now I am leaning toward sticking with what I have rather than inviting problem, not to mention the Thinkpad does seem to have a fair amount of wasted space on the edges, not that the TF doesn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
imo if you really want the stylus features (which seems pretty sweet) and the keyboard then you are better off with the thinkpad. People are saying the dock integration isn't as good on the thinkpad as it is on the TF, not sure where they are getting that from other than speculation. From what I can see, other than the keyboard being larger and thicker it seems to dock pretty much the same way as the TF.
For me though, I don't care much for the features on the Thinkpad and my TF has done everything I need it to do thus far.
starplaya93 said:
imo if you really want the stylus features (which seems pretty sweet) and the keyboard then you are better off with the thinkpad. People are saying the dock integration isn't as good on the thinkpad as it is on the TF, not sure where they are getting that from other than speculation. From what I can see, other than the keyboard being larger and thicker it seems to dock pretty much the same way as the TF.
For me though, I don't care much for the features on the Thinkpad and my TF has done everything I need it to do thus far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, actually, it doesn't seem to dock the same way at all. First, it's not as sturdy, i.e., the TF/dock combo is essentially the same as a single integrated device. The Lenovo docks into a piece that then can be moved within the case. That's a nice feature if you use it on a desk or other flat surface, but I can't see using the Lenovo solution, e.g., while in bed, perched on my blanket, the same way I can my TF. Second, there's no second battery in the Lenovo dock. Finally, if you like the typical trackpad, then you'd want the TF.
The Lenovo looks nice, don't get me wrong, and that N-trig active digitizer would be nice if you want to take handwritten notes. If I were in my previous sales engineer role where I took copious notes during many sales meetings a week, that would be a nice feature. Then again, if that were the case, I'd probably just keep using my Windows 7 Tablet PC, which has the best handwritten notes tool (OneNote) and recognition on the market.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
You should buy one or two
Wow looks like Netflix is working on the Tab 10.1 and Xoom.....No love for our TF????
wynand32 said:
Well, actually, it doesn't seem to dock the same way at all. First, it's not as sturdy, i.e., the TF/dock combo is essentially the same as a single integrated device. The Lenovo docks into a piece that then can be moved within the case. That's a nice feature if you use it on a desk or other flat surface, but I can't see using the Lenovo solution, e.g., while in bed, perched on my blanket, the same way I can my TF. Second, there's no second battery in the Lenovo dock. Finally, if you like the typical trackpad, then you'd want the TF.
The Lenovo looks nice, don't get me wrong, and that N-trig active digitizer would be nice if you want to take handwritten notes. If I were in my previous sales engineer role where I took copious notes during many sales meetings a week, that would be a nice feature. Then again, if that were the case, I'd probably just keep using my Windows 7 Tablet PC, which has the best handwritten notes tool (OneNote) and recognition on the market.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you, it isn't the same, the Lenovo keyboard isn't a dock, you don't power through the keyboard, you just plug it into a USB keyboard that has some Android specific buttons added in. And it does look a little flimsy from a sitting in an odd position perspective. There is nothing holding it in that position other than what appears to be a few indentations on the keyboard panel.
As for the notes, I haven't run Windows in about 8 years, not planning to start now ;-). And since I am considering going back to graduate school here in the future, I like the concept of the hand written notes, but you know if I really do go back to school I will just add it as a school expense and buy a the current well designed unit with a stylus, I really am thinking I will stick to the Asus as I really do like the dock integration. But I still do hate the power cable and I know it is only one thing, but it is driving me to distraction as it is like the thing that has me almost tipping toward returning this for the Thinkpad.
Alexander243 said:
I personally don't like any android tablet, honeycomb runs smooth but it just doesn't appeal as an OS. It looks outdated with that black bar and boring bottons at the bottom. I do like the designs, especially the S Tab 10.1! What I find awkward about this Lenovo tablet its the huge borders at the sides. Pure opinion!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess what sooner or later ios will copy it.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
It is pretty obvious that Lenovo is targeting this system as a business tool. For that market it looks very good.
I can imagine having this unit sitting in its it keyboard dock at my desk and grabbing it to go to a meeting. At the meeting I would take notes with the stylus and having my crummy handwriting converted to text on the fly. Then when I got back to my desk I could integrate my notes into other documents, emails, etc.
The same scenario would probably work for students going from their desks to classes and back.
Of course it won't be as entertaining as watching someone on an iPad try to take notes, but you can't have everything.:->
Every week there are several new posts asking" Should I get an XXXX tablet now or wait for the YYYY tablet. You can fill in the XXXX and YYYY with any brand you want as there has been and probably will be new names to insert for a while. Each new tablet seems to have something that the previous one lacked along with some issues ( both new and old). If you are looking at a tablet do some searching ( not asking) here on XDA and find one that you are happy with and buy it. After you get it use it, enjoy it and upgrade firmware as needed. WAY too many people are spending unnecessary time and money always seeking the greener grass on the other side of the fence. With PC sales sagging, every manufacturer is looking for something to replace their revenue. Today it is the tablet. What works for me may not work for you. Read the specs and research before you buy. I am amazed by how many people buy items only to find out that a key feature they need is not there even though the specs indicated it was missing.
I guess Lenovo designed this tablet for 2.x, judging by the hardware buttons. It's a nice looking tablet, and the folio case is cool, but the buttons scream "last minute HC decision."
dazz87 said:
Wow looks like Netflix is working on the Tab 10.1 and Xoom.....No love for our TF????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a Netflix patch for the transformer. Check out the thread in the development forum. It works great!

Build Quality: NAH!

This is my 5th Android tablet. The first Transformer had gone directly back to Best Buy due to terrible light bleed. Transformer Prime sold in a month. It had its obvious problems plus a screen problem: when you press a little harder on the right side of the screen it would flicker into white. Probably a faulty one. This is my 3d transformer and it is not that impressive. Surprisingly there is no light bleed at all, but the Prime was much better in every way. I sense and hear a squeaky sound when I press the right side of the back camera just under the power button as though it was not fitted well. I pressed all the sides and corners of the tablet, only this spot gives that sound. There is an emptiness there. It really is annoying. I still think I will keep it but wait for the new Samsung. MY GTAB 7 and 10.1 were also made with plastic but they were sturdier and far better in build quality. Asus keeps disappointing me.
Cool story bro.
Perhaps your expectations doesn't match the design specs and price tag of this machine? To me it seems they opted for better guts then exterior and screen.
Thats very true. ASUS wanted to give a nice device to those who couldn't meet the price tag. Everything comes at a cost, this tablet is plastic :T
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk 2
Firstly, I am not quite sure why anyone would want to press the back right side of the tablet next to the back camera? If it squeaks, don't press it, no function on this tablet requires that part pressed, nor is it near anywhere near where one would hold it.
This is my 3rd tablet as well.
First, I had a Prime. I disagree the Prime was better in every way. No GPS, poor wifi signal, micro sd card slot poorly placed so the card kept popping out, micro hdmi port was loose - cable kept coming unplugged. Is the prime sexier, sure, but the aforementioned problems made it quite non-functional.
Second I had an Acer A510. Great tablet, just a bit bulky and had a terrible heat problem where the back of the tablet would reach over 100 degrees when 3D gaming...could not hold it anymore it was so hot. Also, due to low sales volumes, the tablet does not have much developer support, still don't have their own forum with similar launch date to this tablet.
I have had none of these problems on my TF300, it works amazingly well. I actually don't mind the plastic, it is comfortable to hold, and looks much better than I thought it would. The sound is great for a tablet, I had the a510 and believe this is comparable, even without the speaker separation. Is this tablet perfect, no: Battery life could be better and they could have used Gorilla glass, but those are minor nuisances compared to what I have dealt with on my other 2 two tablets and I don't think any tablet is perfect. I am not a budget buyer and purchased this tablet originally to check it out, but it is so good compared to anything else I have used, I plan to keep it and enjoy it.
I did press to get it out from its keyboard dock. Thats how I realized it was not fitted well. Do we really have to accept something with its flaws because it is cheaper? ASUS is a brand name I respect. I had more than 6 laptops, netbooks and now an ultrabook which I LOVE!!!! But we have to accept that Asus is less attentive when it comes to Android. We will see how they will try hard this fall or next year with their Windows 8 tablets and stuff.
I honestly think the build quality is great with the 399 price tag. I have no issues with light bleeding, creaking or loose parts. So far my experience is great and have no complaints.
Love my tab after unlocking and installing cm9. How much more could you ask for with a guad core processor and 399.99 price tag for a 32 gb! all the tablets I see are dual core for 399.99 for 16gb.
Asus, in my opinion gave us a budget tablet and then some. The realm of this tablet was to cut cost so everyone could afford Tegra 3 without buying a 700$ unit. I love my tablet
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium
Great, cheap, tablet.
Always fun to see how people can differ.
Some like the building quality and others think everything is cr*p. I think this is purely what you expect of it and what you want to spend. If you buy an IPad it is not comparable to a Asus because as the manufacturer is different the buildingprocess is different.
I think you (the topicstarter) just want to get a almost undestructible tablet. But tablets are just fragile and if you have a technical problem with one you just bring it back to the shop because you have warrenty.
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
I just didnt feel the thrill I felt when I held my Samsung 10.1 for the first time or even the TR Prime. TR Prime just for a couple of days.... But I agree with most views here. It is a very good tablet for its price. I like the battery usage. I havent charged it for more than 2 days now. Unnoticeable light bleed, etc... Just that squeaky sound
BTW. No Riptide onboard was a bum!
I think mine is fine, besides some uncomfortable cracking I tend to hear with the keyboard dock. Then again, I was not very impressed by my Asus laptop in terms of build quality either. I feel weird buying another Asus product after that laptop but there is nothing else that compares as far as I am concerned when it comes to tablets. I deal with it.
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
bigwalt12 said:
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
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Click to collapse
I have none of those problems. You must have a defective unit, try exchanging for another one before final judgment.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
I honestly love this pad but I see im not the only one experiencing this only bought this because the wifi issue with prime if the 700 solves this without a dongle with a better and brighter screen then I will get that one instead. I have a good relationship with amazon hate returning things multiple times I dont want to take another risk but you guys got a great pad for the price that is if you got a good one. Im gonna miss this pad but im hoping the 700 is worth the wait?????
Psyloid said:
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You nailed it! The only other tablets to compare to this one is the prime (poor GPS and wifi at $500) and the Acer a510 (no keyboard dock, overheat issues stalled sales at $450) and the Toshiba excite( screen issues, OS issues for I think $500- $550).
NO BRAINER to me.
Even if I dont thing 400 is cheap, it is a very good Pad. I dont have any dead pixels and not one other Problem. Wifi is is even better than my last tablet (Hannspad ). Would recommend it at any time.
The 300 is pretty much built the same way as the 101 plastic back..

Sony Vaio Duo 11

How does the Duo 11 compare with the rest of the current Windows 8 tablets/ultrabooks?
From all the reviews that I have read, it seems to be a very capable machine with a lot more ports and features than anything else available in the market.
Any one has any experience with it ?
Sent from my HTC One X+ using Tapatalk 2
After looking at Lenovo then waiting for surface pro to come out, I bought a duo 11, had it over a month now and I am very satisfied.
Sent from my PG41200 using xda app-developers app
GraileR1 said:
After looking at Lenovo then waiting for surface pro to come out, I bought a duo 11, had it over a month now and I am very satisfied.
Sent from my PG41200 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surprisingly there is not a whole lot of talk about Duo 11 anywhere, even though it a full featured tablet/ultrabook.
ajamils said:
Surprisingly there is not a whole lot of talk about Duo 11 anywhere, even though it a full featured tablet/ultrabook.
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Click to collapse
Early reviews wrote it off for cramped keyboard and no trackpad. They basically disregarded the form factor entirely for this model. All reviews said it's an awesome machine, with bad battery life, and heavy, difficult to type. Some dinged it for always having the screen exposed. Nice looking machine though, I looked very closely at that one.
I ended up ordering one. Lets see how it turns out.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using Tapatalk 2
I have one. Battery life is only about 3 hours unless you get the additional sheet battery which doubles it.
I like it a lot. I use it as a desktop most of the time (with 4 monitors and wireless keyboard and mouse) and as a laptop or tablet occasionally. As a tablet it is heavy but powerful. The keyboard is cramped but fine for on the go use.
The form factor is fantastic on planes.
They have apparently brought out a new version in Japan with better battery life, bigger hard drive and faster processors.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
I received my Duo 11 on Friday and I like it a lot so far. It is the latest version with 1.8 Ghz i5. I have not tested the battery yet but it does seem a lot less than my Acer W700 (which easily lasts around 6-7 hours). I plan on picking up the sheet battery and case but it seems like both items are out of stock everywhere, specially the case.
In my little use, I have found that I have absolutely no use of the pen and having no place to put it in the tablet makes it even worse. I already lost it couple of times so I just ended up putting it back in the box. Hopefully, once I get the case or sheet battery, I will take it out.
Has anyone found any good case of the tablet (other than the Sony one) ? On another forum, people mentioned that we should be able to use Macbook Air 13" cases but I have not test that.
The sheet battery has a slot for the pen. The Sony case doesn't seem to have space for the power supply nor a shoulder strap so I returned it without opening it. I ended up with a targus 13" case that is OK without being flash.
Be wary if planning to do any photo editing etc the pen drivers are not compatible with apos like Photoshop etc
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium HD app
Riche101UK said:
Be wary if planning to do any photo editing etc the pen drivers are not compatible with apos like Photoshop etc
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fixes have been promised for that.
SeanX said:
The sheet battery has a slot for the pen. The Sony case doesn't seem to have space for the power supply nor a shoulder strap so I returned it without opening it. I ended up with a targus 13" case that is OK without being flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Targus case did you get?
Good to know but time will tell. Its the one thing that put me off it as i do photography
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium HD app
ajamils said:
Which Targus case did you get?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one (I think)
You could probably go a bit smaller so long as you have space for the power supply.
Currently using mine at the moment while writing this post. I have small hands and so the keyboard does not feel very cramped at all to write on. Another thing I would like to mention is that this machine is very capable of running almost everything I've thrown at it, from editing software to video games. It probably wont run crysis 3 or anything, but handles Skyrim fine at 30fps on low settings. My girlfriend owns the Microsoft surface pro and side by side the Sony duo 11 is slightly thicker and of course a bit larger (11.6 vs 10.6) but not to where it's a monster compared to the surface. The duo does have a slightly thicker bezel which makes the length a bit longer but this gives my hands ease of use without the fear of accidently touching the screen while handling it in different positions. Another huge plus is that the windows key is an ACUTAL button unlike other tablet/pc devices so your hands don't accidently graze the bezel and get sent to the start screen (a problem my girlfriends surface has). In terms of weight between the two devices is pretty small and not noticeable at all. Although the surface is about 1.8gs and the duo is 2.8gs the weight distribution is much better on the duo and causing it to feel almost lighter then the surface.
So if your trying to decide what to get, the question you first must ask yourself is what do you want more; portability, or functionality? The surface gives you the same specs but in a smaller package(plus the totally awesome touch/type covers) vs the Sony duo which offers a larger screen estate and more ports (2x usb 3.0, vga, hdmi out, SD/pro duo slot, Ethernet port) Performance they are very similar in processing power and battery life, however the Sony duo does offer a sheet battery option that will double the life of your device, at the cost of weight, and portability. For all you graphic artist out there who are wondering about the pens that are included in both devices, the surface pro uses Wacom tablet pen vs the Sony's N-Trig pen. There is much debate about which is better but overall they have their pros and cons. Wacom tablets have more pressure sensitivity, but the screen tracking on the surface is horrid (gets especially worse near the edges), while the N-Trigs have more accuracy but lacks pressure sensitivity. Neither has wintab drivers for pressure sensitivity on adobe software, and both promises further support but that has yet to be seen.
Ps. Did I mention the Sony has a gorgeous backlit keyboard
I bought a I7 Duo, the latest version Sony came out with. The battery life is better, and I like the laptop. Very powerful, and I have big hands. The keyboard is fine to me. As for the mouse, I bought a bluetooth fold mouse for that. Worked fine. I have a 256 drive, and a 1tb passport. Works well. Hell I may even load WoW to see how it runs.
Just need to get use to windows 8.
Ninjack said:
I bought a I7 Duo, the latest version Sony came out with. The battery life is better, and I like the laptop. Very powerful, and I have big hands. The keyboard is fine to me. As for the mouse, I bought a bluetooth fold mouse for that. Worked fine. I have a 256 drive, and a 1tb passport. Works well. Hell I may even load WoW to see how it runs.
Just need to get use to windows 8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which mouse did you get?
Sent from my HTC One X+ using Tapatalk 2
sweetfish said:
Currently using mine at the moment while writing this post. I have small hands and so the keyboard does not feel very cramped at all to write on. Another thing I would like to mention is that this machine is very capable of running almost everything I've thrown at it, from editing software to video games. It probably wont run crysis 3 or anything, but handles Skyrim fine at 30fps on low settings. My girlfriend owns the Microsoft surface pro and side by side the Sony duo 11 is slightly thicker and of course a bit larger (11.6 vs 10.6) but not to where it's a monster compared to the surface. The duo does have a slightly thicker bezel which makes the length a bit longer but this gives my hands ease of use without the fear of accidently touching the screen while handling it in different positions. Another huge plus is that the windows key is an ACUTAL button unlike other tablet/pc devices so your hands don't accidently graze the bezel and get sent to the start screen (a problem my girlfriends surface has). In terms of weight between the two devices is pretty small and not noticeable at all. Although the surface is about 1.8gs and the duo is 2.8gs the weight distribution is much better on the duo and causing it to feel almost lighter then the surface.
So if your trying to decide what to get, the question you first must ask yourself is what do you want more; portability, or functionality? The surface gives you the same specs but in a smaller package(plus the totally awesome touch/type covers) vs the Sony duo which offers a larger screen estate and more ports (2x usb 3.0, vga, hdmi out, SD/pro duo slot, Ethernet port) Performance they are very similar in processing power and battery life, however the Sony duo does offer a sheet battery option that will double the life of your device, at the cost of weight, and portability. For all you graphic artist out there who are wondering about the pens that are included in both devices, the surface pro uses Wacom tablet pen vs the Sony's N-Trig pen. There is much debate about which is better but overall they have their pros and cons. Wacom tablets have more pressure sensitivity, but the screen tracking on the surface is horrid (gets especially worse near the edges), while the N-Trigs have more accuracy but lacks pressure sensitivity. Neither has wintab drivers for pressure sensitivity on adobe software, and both promises further support but that has yet to be seen.
Ps. Did I mention the Sony has a gorgeous backlit keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not mention the Sony keyboard.
I've just bought Sony vaio duo 11 with Core i5 and 128G SSD and I have some comments.
First, although the keyboard is quite small, so sometimes i feel annoy but by the time i feel more comfortable.
Second, I have Galaxy Note 10.1 and i ensure that writing on Note 10.1 by Wacom stylus is more likely than Duo 11.
Furthermore, When surfing on the internet, Wifi suddenly disconnect...
Finally, with duo 11 screen, if I use a brown colour background, I can see the screen is waving like a low refresing rate on an old screen, although I set it to 60Hz. Does anyone try it? using a brown colour.
But i feel satisfied with it. I hope that in the future Sony will upgrade it
Just ordered a duo 11
I was browsing for a suitable sleeve, and found that Elecom make a Zeroshock that should be the perfect size - the model reference is ZSB-IBUB03 (then BK for black or WH for white). The only place I've been able to find one is ebay (coming from Japan), price in the £20 to £25 range, so I now have one on the way
got one of these today. Great machine but i need out how to enable the pen scrolling?
I got an i5 4gb ram 128ssd vaio duo last week. Absolutely love it. one question:
Which ram do I need to upgrade this beast!?

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